This story was originally published on November 26, 2025 in Penn Today.

Writer: Dan Shortridge

Twenty-five years ago, the Pan-Asian American Community House(PAACH) opened its doors as a space to support Penn’s Asian Pacific Islander student communities and anyone interested in their diverse cultures and experiences.

Since then, it has provided both a physical space and a support network for students from Asia and of Asian descent, offering comfort, advice, counseling, food, and just a place to relax.

PAACH is also a place for cultural events and community celebrations, including student mixers, local trips, and workshops covering food, festivals and art. The center also supports events such as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week and groups highlighting music, dance, theatre, and spirituality.

“I think all of the students would agree with me when I say that PAACH is almost like a second home,” says fourth-year Megan Chan, chair of the Asian Pacific Student Coalition. “It’s more than just a cultural center.”

Alumnus Franklin Shen, an early PAACH founder who graduated in 2003, says he welcomed the community atmosphere and support. “I could find food, community, advice, mentorship,” Shen says. “My parents never went to college, so there was information about financial aid, how to navigate university life, how to study. PAACH really helped fill the gaps.”

Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania has been awarded a place on the list of 2025 Handshake Career Spark Award winners. The accolade is given to contributors who succeed in supporting the next generation of future leaders in their college-to-career transition and encourage the Handshake mission to provide all students the chance to build their desired careers regardless of their background or the school that they attend. The Career Spark Awards (CSAs) recognize top career centers across three categories—student engagement, employer engagement and curation,reporting, analytics, and First Destination Survey (FDS). 

A core platform that powers the Career Services office, Handshake is a one-stop shop for students to find jobs, schedule interviews with employers, participate in career fairs, schedule appointments with Career Services advisors, access career resources, and view a calendar of events hosted by our office and employers. The app’s student-friendly design features a front-page feed that displays the most relevant jobs and events, customized for each user. This also allows Career Services to share social media-style content, informing and educating their audience, which includes undergraduate students across all four colleges and graduate and professional students.  

1. J. Michael DeAngelis, the Senior Associate Director at Career Services who manages communications and technology, conveys his enthusiasm upon receiving the major recognition.

“So excited to be a part of this win! The entire Career Services team works hard to leverage Handshake in serving our students and alumni, maximizing their career outcomes. I’m excited that when it comes to media and technology in the career services space, we lead the way with Handshake as a tremendous ally and partner.” 

The award is a testament to Career Services’ commitment to providing consistent, timely, and helpful resources for students to advance their career aspirations.  As a career center which not only utilizes digital platforms and media to bring employer access to students but contains a myriad of opportunities for job exploration and preparation, Career Services at Penn stands out as a model of how universities can best be a guiding star for their students. 

The recognition comes at an exciting moment for the team as Career Services approaches its 100th anniversary. With this notable spotlight, Career Services at Penn is well-positioned to continue the necessary work of connecting students to tangible, real world career opportunities.